The best way to see how all this technology is really going to make a difference is to try it out on real students in a real classroom.
The premise is to create a learning environment where students are engaged, thinking, collaborating and contributing in the creation of new information.
Sample class:
1) Mildly disengaged
2) Behavioural issues and learning issues, including 2 students on the autism spectrum.
3) Year 8 mostly boys.
The steps I undertook before launching into the whole wiki thing.
1) Survey students technology
base line using Survey Monkey to gather data on where my students were in their online experience. Found out interestingly..all had www at home,mostly had own computer, mostly spent heaps of time on gaming, social networking ie msm, facebook etc.
2) Create a wiki space ..Learnt..MUST have protocol page (netiqutte) , must invite parents onto view work, set up for each student including how to use discussion area. Tick the monitoring all in Manage wiki. You will see everything that is going on with an email being sent to your email account.
3) Introduced procedures-
Log onto portal: get lesson link through email, go to wikispaces Join..BIG ISSUE arose straight away..BLOCKED SITE.. after 3 attempts and final calling Det help desk while in class I had the block removed. Therefore learnt that essential that you create your wiki space and create as PRIVATE, essential for a wiki space to be unblocked by the DET.
Students log onto wiki and tell me they are present in class.
4) Essential step. monitor the pages. The great thing about wikis is that you are able to monitor all pages. If any student changes anything I recieve an email. Yes some classes I have got 60 emails, but that is good, that means lots of students are interacting. It also allows you to moniter any form of cyber bullying, laziness etc.
5) Invite parents into your classroom wiki. I think transparency is great. They are on our side. use them to encourage interest and learning.
All you needed to know about wikis.
http://www.enhanced-learning.net/doc/newsletters/newsletter2009term2.html
Another Fabulous space to get you started with your wiki.
http://educationalwikis.wikispaces.com/Articles+and+Resources
Sharing the WIki Journey in My Classroom.
The best way to see how all this technology is really going to make a difference is to try it out on real students in a real classroom.The premise is to create a learning environment where students are engaged, thinking, collaborating and contributing in the creation of new information.
Sample class:
1) Mildly disengaged
2) Behavioural issues and learning issues, including 2 students on the autism spectrum.
3) Year 8 mostly boys.
The steps I undertook before launching into the whole wiki thing.
1) Survey students technology
base line using Survey Monkey to gather data on where my students were in their online experience. Found out interestingly..all had www at home,mostly had own computer, mostly spent heaps of time on gaming, social networking ie msm, facebook etc.
2) Create a wiki space ..Learnt..MUST have protocol page (netiqutte) , must invite parents onto view work, set up for each student including how to use discussion area. Tick the monitoring all in Manage wiki. You will see everything that is going on with an email being sent to your email account.
3) Introduced procedures-
Students log onto wiki and tell me they are present in class.
4) Essential step. monitor the pages. The great thing about wikis is that you are able to monitor all pages. If any student changes anything I recieve an email. Yes some classes I have got 60 emails, but that is good, that means lots of students are interacting. It also allows you to moniter any form of cyber bullying, laziness etc.5) Invite parents into your classroom wiki. I think transparency is great. They are on our side. use them to encourage interest and learning.